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January 29, 2018

The Room to Breathe teamis growing yet again! We are so thrilled to welcome Amanda Omelusik to our little family! Amanda is a bright light with a contagious smile and we are so excited to have her join us.

For Amanda, the most rewarding part of working with Room to Breathe is witnessing the incredible transformations that take place while organizing – not just within our physical spaces, but our emotional ones as well. Watching a home go from disorganized disarray to effortlessly functional, and the feelings of calmness and relief that accompany those transformations is what makes this work all the more meaningful. Amanda loves sharing her abilities and watching stress melt away as she helps you transition to a lighter, more intentional space.

When Amanda is not organizing, she can be found hiking in the Rocky Mountains, spending time at her family cabin, and hanging out with her furball, Tucker and husband Bruce. She also volunteers her time as a Troop Leader for a Rangers unit with the Girl Guides of Canada. Amanda holds a Masters degree in Criminology and Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice.

We are firm believers that our greatest strength lies in the consistency and cohesion of our team- that we can go much further together than we ever could on our own. And because of that guiding value, we have attracted some of the best organizers and wonderful human beings around. Welcome, Amanda! We can't wait to see where this next adventure takes us!

January 03, 2018

For many, January can feel like a bit of slump. Gone is the anticipation of holiday cheer, gifts, and the social gatherings that fill December, all quickly replaced by a seemingly endless number of days until summer. So much cold and dark can be tough, and the massive sugar hangover sure doesn't help.

But January also offers something pretty special- a clean slate. A fresh, unscribbled in calendar waiting for the addition of your exciting plans, rooms and surfaces decluttered of holiday knickknacks, garlands, and fallen pine needles, new resolutions, goals, and positive intention setting for the year ahead, and time- lots and lots of quiet, unscheduled time.

Could 2018 be the year you resolve to get your home and life the most organized it's ever been? We would love to help you succeed! So with that goal in mind, here area few ideas to get started!

Adopt a New Rule
December inevitably leaves behind an influx of shiny new things that don't always have a proper home. Never has there been a better time to get our belongings in order - creating space for the new and parting ways with that which no longer serves us.

One rule we love to challenge ourselves with: one item in = three items out.

The idea is simple- for every new item you receive, three items must be donated and passed along. What gifts did you received that can replace items you already own? What existing items do you own that you no longer utilize? What hasn't been touched over the last 3 months and could be of use to someone else? All great questions to get you started.

Continue the positive momentum of downsizingby attempting to abide by this rule throughout the entire year. Any new item that comes in, means three old items must go out. You can do it!

Establish a Tidying Schedule
Upwards of 70% of cleaning is actually just picking up stuff and returning it to where it belongs- Often, clutter is what really makes cleaning up a challenge. Having a simple tidying schedule can make the task seem much less daunting and can help to avoid things piling up.

Clear Your Files
Tax season is just around the corner, so now is the perfect time to see what you have, what pieces are missing, and make a space for the files that will be coming in in 2018. The same can be applied to any digital and computer files. Move anything that is no longer needed on to an external hard drive and create new virtual folder system for organized and efficient filing for all things 2018.

Dedicating the time and effort now will set you up for sweet success into the New Year.

Shake up your Cooking Routine
Meal planning can be a big undertaking, but January is a great time to make a plan. Take inventory of you cupboards, fridge, and freezer and see what you have on hand that can be used up or tested out.

Too many beans in the back of your cupboard? Google some new recipes. Want to learn how to cook a really delicious curry? Check out the cookbook selection at your local library, or ask a friend if they want to do a cookbook swap. Hoping to finally figure out how to utilize your slow cooker (or other new kitchen gadgets?) Ask friends one Facebook for tried, tested, and true recipes, or peek Pinterest for fresh inspiration. The ideas are endless, so take advantage of the slower pace and make extra batches to freeze for a later date.

What's Your Personal Limitation?

What is a task you truly dislike? you know- the thing that year after year ends up on your to-do list, and year after year is simply not getting done. Maybe its organizing the garage or keeping on top of household chores. Perhaps your home office is a dumping ground for everything that doesn't have an assigned home or you simply cant get on top of making meals as often as you would like.

Identify what your personal limitation is and see if there is a solution to help take it off you plate. If your issue is making meals, perhaps a meal prep delivery service is something that will save you heaps in mental anguish and wasted food. If its a deep clean of the bathrooms, look at hiring a cleaning services to address that problem area, or if you find yourself unable to tackle the garage or other cluttered spaces, please give Room to Breathe a call! We offer a free, no obligation in home consultation, and would love nothing more than to help make your New Years dreams come true by finally getting things crossed off your list.